JP Morgan Chase plans to shutter roughly 300 branches by the end of 2016. The nation’s largest bank is looking to cut costs and optimize its branch network, and the branch closures represent roughly 5 percent of its overall footprint....More

German prosecutors said Monday that they had filed criminal charges against the former chief executive and the former management board of Hypo Real Estate. At least six rival real estate investment firms have expressed interest in buying the property holdings of restaurant and packaged-food giant Bob Evans Farms Inc. Emaar Malls Group, the shopping mall operator based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, said Monday that it had raised $1.6 billion in its initial public offering. These are among today’s 10 must reads from around the commercial real estate world....More

The stars appear to be lining up in favor of a bull run in the seniors housing sector. Exclusive results from a study conducted jointly by NREI and the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry (NIC) shows that respondents are optimistic on their outlook for the sector....More

The CRE collateralized loan obligation (CLO) is a new syndication structure that has been gaining traction over the past two years. Growing momentum in the niche has been fueled in large part by investors’ quest for higher yields....More

It’s shaping up to be another big year for commercial and multifamily lending—especially for banks and conduit lenders, according to the latest figures from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), an industry trade group....More